Gear Upgrade (API 3124+)

[mike2205]

Wanna start off this by saying I'm probably the most anti gear person ever. I don't have a clue about anything, so any help is welcome.

I currently run a Digi 003+ and a Digimax D8 (using the ADAT) as my preamps and I think it's the time for an upgrade. It was fine while I was only doing music with distortion and no ambience, but now I'm getting indie/acoustic bands etc. I plan on running everything through it (OH's, Guitar/Bass Di's, Vocals)

I've done a lot of research on the API and I think that's what I want.

My question is, what's the best way of connecting it to my existing gear. Will I have to go through 4 channels of the 003? Will it produce different results going through the D8? Or does it bypass their converters and use the API's? (I read something like that somewhere)

Also I just finished an EP for a band that wanted real drum samples. So I should be able to post some up with in the next few days. Everyone always likes new samples haha

Mike

 

[BLUElightCory]

The simplest method would be to run outputs of the 3124 into the line inputs on the 003. You'll need 4 XLR > balanced 1/4" cables.

If the D8 has line inputs you could run though it as well; it might sound slightly different (due to the D8 having different converters) but it'd probably be a negligible difference at best.

Also, there are no converters in the 3124, it's strictly an analog unit.

 

[acappa]

BLUElightCory is right, I have a 3124+ too. To me is hard to manage OH´s into that, preamp have a super input, so I always have to ride the 214 pad, plus the 3124+ pad....
But it slays with SN, Kick and Toms...welcome to the API familly man XD

 

[aramism]

like everyone else said you might wanna pick up some mic pads for some stuff especially overheads.

really no matter what you put into that thing it sounds amazing. particularly for kick/snare and electric guitars.

 

[jangoux]

build some mic pads... Google H-PAD, it is super easy to build

 

[mike2205]

Cheers for all the help guys. Yeah I've just been looking into pads, basically everyone on other forum's is saying they run really hot, and that whoever gets a 3124 should get some Shure A15AS's too. They're about £40 each though.

Just googled H-Pad but I'm not one for using a soldering iron haha. Was always crap at electronics in school.

I've found some generic attenuators on Studiospares that come as -10, -20 or -30 dB.

How much do you think the levels will need attenuating by for OH's?

Mike

 

[mike2205]

Forgot to ask...does anyone have a 3124mb+? Do the differences justify the extra 800ish quid?

I've only been thinking about getting the 3124+ but if getting the mb is better in the long run then it may be worth saving up a bit more?

 

[BLUElightCory]

How much do you think the levels will need attenuating by for OH's?

Mike

I have two -10's and two -20's; I'd probably go with -15 or -20 if you're using it for drums.

 

[Melodeath]

Are OHs really hotter than snare or kick, or does it just sound bad on OH unless it's really low level?

 

[acappa]

Oh´s are not that hot compare to SN and Kick, it´s just condenser mikes are more sensible about SPL than dynamic. Anyway, when I use my API for snare, toms, guitars, I always need to put the pad in order to be able to control the gain a bit. Cheers!

 

[gabriel g.]

As far as I know the 003+ is the version with 8 preamps, and I think you cant realy bypass them.
I think the same goes for the digimax thing.

You need to bypass the preamps and connect the api to a line in +4dBu input.
Then you most likely need pad-cables.
The apis realy sound great when they are hot. Esp. On kick,snare and toms (!!!)

 

[Emdprodukt]

You should look into something else. In the end the API has only 4 preamps. It rules for sure but do you really think you allready need a 2500€ preamp!?

 

[heshian46]

As far as I know the 003+ is the version with 8 preamps, and I think you cant realy bypass them.
I think the same goes for the digimax thing.

You need to bypass the preamps and connect the api to a line in +4dBu input.
Then you most likely need pad-cables.
The apis realy sound great when they are hot. Esp. On kick,snare and toms (!!!)

On the 003+ you can select any one of the channels individually to run as Line/DI. You can bypass the preamps.

 

[AndrewPGlover]

On the 003+ you can select any one of the channels individually to run as Line/DI. You can bypass the preamps.

I believe it is still running through the preamp circuitry, it is just a HI-Z input of it instead of an XLR. It doesn't go straight to the converter though.

 

[mike2205]

You should look into something else. In the end the API has only 4 preamps. It rules for sure but do you really think you allready need a 2500€ preamp!?

Absolutely, I'm only really gonna need 4 channels max at a time anyway. There's no point in me choosing something else for now then in a years time deciding I really want an API again. I would have just wasted money on something else.

I believe it is still running through the preamp circuitry, it is just a HI-Z input of it instead of an XLR. It doesn't go straight to the converter though.

So is it not possible to run it through a 003 whilst truly bypassing its preamps?

 

[Josh Burgess]

If you can deal with only 2 preamps, the API A2D has built in pads, phantom power, metering, and converters.

 

[mike2205]

Ok, so after an afternoon of research I've found out that neither the 003's pre's or the D8's pre's can be bypassed.

Can anyone recommend a cheapish preamp instead of the D8 that the pre's can be bypassed? With ADAT so I can connect to 003. Will this work?

 

[BLUElightCory]

Ok, so after an afternoon of research I've found out that neither the 003's pre's or the D8's pre's can be bypassed.

Can anyone recommend a cheapish preamp instead of the D8 that the pre's can be bypassed? With ADAT so I can connect to 003. Will this work?

Well, as Josh mentioned above, the API A2D gives you 2 channels of API pres (the same pres as the 3124) and conversion and can be run simultaneously with your D8 and 003 pres through the S/PDIF connection on the 003. This way you would be bypassing the pres and gain the advantages of having a couple channels of API pres in your setup. If you don't need 4 channels of API this'd be the way to go.

 

[Trevoire520]

Ok, so after an afternoon of research I've found out that neither the 003's pre's or the D8's pre's can be bypassed.

Can anyone recommend a cheapish preamp instead of the D8 that the pre's can be bypassed? With ADAT so I can connect to 003. Will this work?

M Audio Profire 2626.

 

[Jaymz]

M Audio Profire 2626.

Of which im selling if you're interested *to the OP*